Johnson hopes to be support for young starting quarterback

--If DT Sen-Derrick Marks cannot go, rookie third-round pick Mike Martin could be next in line for reps at defensive tackle.

--DE Scott Solomon had his right knee scoped last week and missed another practice. He is questionable for Sunday.

--T Mike Otto will be out this week as he recovers from knee and hand surgeries.

GAME PLAN: The Titans like Jake Locker's moxie and makeup, but a first start against the New England Patriots is a tall order for any quarterback. The onus may be on the Titans defense to control the tempo and somehow keep the Patriots' tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in check. If that isn't enough, they will still have to figure out how slow Wes Welker.

The Titans have intentionally gotten younger and faster on defense, with players like MLB Colin McCarthy, MLB Akeem Ayers, DT Jurrell Casey and CB Jason McCourty being key elements. The Titans have had trouble slowing tight ends in the past, and Tom Brady surely will attempt to exploit that to see if the new-look Titans can do anything to show they have improved in that regard.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: S Michael Griffin vs. TE Rob Gronkowski. The Titans signed Griffin to a five-year, $36 million extension to be a centerfield safety, but he could end up in the box on Sunday, checking off the line and trying to stop "Gronk" from devouring a defense that looked improved in preseason, but has been vulnerable to tight ends down the seam for a number of years now. With rookie WLB Zach Brown perhaps too green yet to take on full responsibility of slowing down a superstar tight end, Griffin may be best suited to handle that role for now.

RB Chris Johnson vs. LB Jerod Mayo. The Patriots defense was porous against the run last season, and Johnson has much to prove here that last year was a fluke, caused by his holdout and the lockout. Tennessee has rebuilt is offensive line, and though OC Chris Palmer doesn't mind throwing to set up the run, he needs a productive CJ on Sunday to not put so much pressure on young QB Jake Locker in his first NFL start.Mayo, too, had a bit of a down year last year, credited with some 80 tackles less than he had in 2010.